Murder charge laid in East Vancouver sword attack

A photo of Manraj Akalirai, from the family's memorial Facebook page.Submitted
/ Facebook.com

A young man is taken into custody by Vancouver Police at the office complex at 815 Hornby Thursday, January 24, 2013 in Vancouver. Police confirmed Friday the arrest was related to the homicide of Manraj Akalirai, the 19-year-old man killed in sword attack Wednesday.Ian Lindsay
/ PNG

A young man is taken into custody by Vancouver Police at the office complex at 815 Hornby Thursday, January 24, 2013 in Vancouver. Police confirmed Friday the arrest was related to the homicide of Manraj Akalirai, the 19-year-old man killed in sword attack Wednesday.Ian Lindsay
/ PNG

Vancouver police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver Police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver Police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver police do a yard search, January 24, around the scene on Vancouver's Elgin street were a street fight led to one man's death.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Police have released few details, but police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue.Shane MacKichan
/ Special to the Sun

Police have released few details, but police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue.Shane MacKichan
/ Special to the Sun

Vancouver police are investigating a grisly homicide in East Vancouver after a man was reportedly attacked last night by up to 10 suspects wielding various weapons including machetes.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Vancouver police are investigating a grisly homicide in East Vancouver after a man was reportedly attacked last night by up to 10 suspects wielding various weapons including machetes.Shane McKichen
/ Special to the Sun

Police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Police have released few details, but police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue.Shane MacKichan
/ Special to the Sun

Police have released few details, but police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue.Shane MacKichan
/ Special to the Sun

Police have released few details, but police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue. The victim died in hospital.Shane MacKichan
/ Special to the Sun

Police have released few details, but police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue. Here a car is towed away from the scene.Shane MacKichan
/ Special to the Sun

Police have released few details, but police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue.Shane MacKichan
/ Special to the Sun

Police have released few details, but police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue.Shane MacKichan
/ Special to the Sun

Police have released few details, but police spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed one man is dead after an attack on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue.Shane MacKichan
/ Special to the Sun

VANCOUVER -- Two young Vancouver men are facing charges in the grisly slaying of 19-year-old Manraj Akalirai in January.

Amritpal Dhillon, 20, has been charged with second-degree murder and 18-year-old Amritpaul Rakhra is facing one count of manslaughter.

Both were arrested by Vancouver police officers Tuesday and appeared in Vancouver Provincial Court Wednesday afternoon. They have been remanded in custody until their next appearance May 1.

Neither man was previously known to police, VPD Insp. Laurence Rankin said at a news conference.

The VPD received several 911 calls about 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 about people fighting with swords and baseball bats on Elgin Street near East 47th Avenue.

“When police arrived, they found a young man suffering from severe injuries. He was taken to hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead,” Rankin said.

Akalirai was nearly beheaded in the battle. Five people were arrested in the days after the murder, but were released.

Rankin said investigators “quickly identified several persons of interest believed to be involved in the altercation between the two groups on Elgin Street.”

He said the slaying does not have any gang connections though he said the possibility of a drug dispute was part of the investigation.

He said the motive is believed to have been “an ongoing conflict between two groups.”

“There was an issue between them and as a result of that issue, a conflict unfolded which led to the death of Mr. Akalirai,” he said.

Akalirai’s family is out of the country, but was contacted about the charges being laid, Rankin said.

“As you can appreciate, they are relieved. It is some measure of comfort. It won’t bring their son back. But they know we have exhausted every investigative avenue at this time,” he said.

Akalirai had no criminal record, but police said at the time of his murder that he was “known to them.”

Asked if there is the potential for further violence because of the conflict, Rankin said “there are always concerns with ongoing conflicts and we have taken steps to address that and been effective in doing so at this time.”

Akalirai’s murder was the first of two homicides in Vancouver in 2013. Charges have been laid in both of them.

“While those two homicides have been — and no doubt will continue to be — very difficult for the families of the victims, we hope that this will bring some degree of peace to family and friends,” Rankin said.

Murder charge laid in East Vancouver sword attack

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